Palmer and Forks Remember 9/11

and townships are expected to join in with the city of Easton this weekend to remember those who died in the terrorist attacks.

Representatives from both municipalities are expected to be on hand to speak during the ceremonies.

At 4pm Saturday, there will be a Blue Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, 900 Washington St., Easton. All denominations are welcome.

The Blue Mass is a celebration of faith to honor the dedicated fire, rescue, emergency medical personnel and law enforcement officers who protect and serve our communities.

In 1934, a Catholic priest named Thomas Dade from the Archdiocese of Baltimore initiated the Catholic Police and Firemen's Society while stationed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.

About 1,100 police and firemen dressed in blue uniforms marched into St. Patrick's church for the celebration of the First Blue Mass on Sept. 29, 1934.

This year, the Rev. J. Michael Beers, pastor of St. Anthony’s church, would like to honor all emergency first responders at the Mass. The Mass will be followed by a reception of fellowship and refreshments at the parish center next to the church.

At 1pm Sunday, church bells and sirens are to be sounded for one full minute in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001.

At 4pm, the city of Easton will be honoring the local first responders of Palmer, Forks, Easton, Wilson, West Easton, Phillipsburg and the Northampton County Sheriff's Department in a ceremony on Larry Holmes Drive.

Each municipality will have a speaker who will hand a proclamation to his or her group. In addition, singers from the Metropolitan Opera will perform four patriotic songs.